Catherine Shaffer on the "boys won't read about girls" canard. Look, okay, some boys won't, but that's because they're mirroring the attitudes they see at home and in their idols. For the real book industry (or at least the geek based genres), that's not too large a population to really worry about, because those people don't buy icky genre books anyway.

Haven't done this yet, so before it gets too far away, in all the hullballu, I nearly missed the passing of Peter Bergman. A founding member (the founding member) of Firesign Theatre, his work has had a large influence on my sense of humor and the way I view the world. If you ever see me sitting by myself watching the crowds passing by and smiling, it's probably because in the back of my head there is a tape running giving all the background comedic noise that was de rigor on the Firesign Records. "Antelope Freeway, one sixty-fourth of a mile…" (that sketch runs through my head every time I use the GPS).

ZOMG, the new EPA rules will mean another coal fired power plant will never be built in the US. Well, the industry (power generation) doesn't seem all that concerned 'cause they're all huffing the natural gas these days. But I'm sure we'll get the various conservative propaganda engines fired up about it (they, BTW, do run on coal, the high sulfur kind). So, to head off any strikes, I've just got one question for ya, where the fuck are you on clean coal? It's been over a decade and you only have 1 pilot plant who's technology has proven to be too expensive and doesn't scale well. Time for that lie to die it's quiet death.

The myth of the independent voter. While there are some, it's not really the 40% that is often touted.

The smear campaign against Trayvon Martin. Why would conservatives want to smear a 17-year old murder victim? Because they know that this is exactly the case people have been making against the fringe positions and laws pushed by the NRA. And it's a big enough story that they can't bury it. So they need to create the narrative that Travyon was "asking for it", Zimmerman was "protecting" himself, and Travyon was the aggressor here. Because the opposite of those positions destroys their arguments. Again, as I stated here, their arguments hold no logical basis.

I feel like I coulda told 'em so about independent voters: I've been an independent since high school because the Democrats are generally too conservative, not because I shift allegiances every election cycle or can't make up my mind. I've never assumed I was alone--I've always taken it for granted that most other indies are more or less like me and just don't want to be formally affiliated with one party or the other but will consistently vote for the one that's closer to their values (Democratic in my case, natch).

The only races I'd expect to see indies swing at all would be ones in which a third-party candidate appears "viable" (in a very loose sense that makes those quotes necessary, not as scare quotes but as "so-called" quotes); e.g. leftie indies voting for Nader or conservative independents defecting to Perot in '92. Not something that's going to happen this time around; possibly something that's not going to happen in any foreseeable future, as I'd guess most independents felt burned by the way their (mis)calculations paid off. (Personally: after Bush, I will never say what I said in 2000 about the Democrats and Republicans being barely distinguishable from each other. Gore may have run as a center-right candidate in the Clintonian mold, but mea culpa, there would have been a difference; not that my vote for Nader in 2000 made one bit of difference in a winner-take-all electoral system in which my state was deeply in the GOP's pocket and all I could hope to do--unsuccessfully, as it turned out--is try to get the Greens some love on future ballots).

Yeah, Eric. I think that your experience tracks to most of those who claim "independence." It's sort of the same stats that conservative like to tout about how "most of the country is against Obamacare" without mentioning that over half of those people object because Obamacare doesn't go far enough (ie. single payer).

I was surprised that there's more Democratic leaning independents than conservatives. My perception must be skewed by my previous work environments. But yeah, whenever I hear the talking heads saying, "Well, the independents could swing either way" I just laugh. There's really only a small percentage that could swing, most of the rest will either vote in a certain direction, or stay home.

About Me

I am a writer of Fantasy, Horror, and Science Fiction. Here you can find some of my thoughts about writing, politics, society, dreams, and anything that comes into my head. Sometimes I drop a Story Bone or two. And then there is the tweeting.

The opinions expressed on this blog are my own and should not be considered the opinions of my employers or clients.

Da Rules

Anything put in a post with the title "Story Bone" is up for grabs. If it sets off a story bomb in your head, go for it. I don't claim any right except to maybe write my own story based on the bone. I haven't researched the bones to make sure I'm not trodding on somebody else's toes so use at your own risk. Think of these as free ideas.

Freed Scribblings

The Company of Ravens - First Chapter This is the story that nearly killed me and forced me to start writing down these things in my head. It's still a draft. After innumeral edits this is still at the point I realized I needed more skills to tell the story, and also the point where I realized I could do this.

The Dead Are Busy Released from the trunk in celebration of the first International Pixel-Stained Technopeasant Day, April 23, 2007.

Storming Heaven This was the first short story I wrote that I felt was ready for publication. Released from the trunk in celebration of the second International Pixel-Stained Technopeasant Day, April 23, 2008.